International Black Sea University

This study explores how AI-powered personalization enhances brand awareness in the B2B e-commerce sector. Through a quantitative approach, the research examines six dimensions of AI personalization, testing seven hypotheses with data from 371 B2B clients in the retail and agricultural sectors. Structural equation modelling using SPSS 25 and AMOS reveals that AI-driven factors such as customer service, information and recommendation, machine learning, information and satisfaction quality significantly boost brand awareness. We have conducted analysis of demographics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) for reliability test and validity assessment, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) for testing the hypothesis, SPSS 25 and AMOS were used for the analysis. However, privacy, interaction and accessibility, as well as the mediational effect of value co-creation, show no notable impact. This study provides fresh insights into AI’s role in B2B branding, offering a valuable framework for professionals looking to integrate AI into their marketing strategies to bolster brand awareness.

The goal of this research is to show the results of the study of the role of social media in digital environmental activism as an example of Georgia. In the last few years there are a few studies which discuss digital environmental activism but this kind of research has not been conducted in Georgia, which emphasizes novelty and relevance. Methods of this study are semi-structured interviews with active users of the social media platforms and a qualitative content analysis of digital environmental activists’ pages on Facebook. As for the research questions, what is the role of digital media in environmental activism? Which social media platforms are used by activists? Which type of the activism is used by Georgian digital environmental activists? According to the results of this study, slacktivism is mainly observed in Georgian social media, when people try to express their position with electronic petitions, express position by avatar frames or using hashtags. There are some platforms on Facebook where environmental activists are united, but until now, there was only 1 case that actively collected citizens on the social media platform – Facebook – movement of “MyCityKills”. As the questioned respondents emphasized, despite the existence of environmental groups or pages on Facebook, it is still passive activism. It was the only case of manifestation of not only environmental activism, but also civil digital activism in general, when thousands of young volunteers mobilized through Facebook and on June 13, 2015, to clean the environment of Tbilisi affected by the flood and help people affected by the disaster.

In the modern, globalized business landscape, international corporations play a major role in integrated economic processes, possessing significant financial resources, a high level of employment and a large volume of output. The success of these corporations in an internationally competitive environment largely depends on the decision-making model adopted by their multicultural management. It should also be noted that international corporations are a network of interconnected companies that, after exhausting their capabilities in the host country and the local market, begin to internationalize their business through a subsidiary, a branch of a foreign enterprise or a representative office of a foreign company in different parts of the world. Based on the above, the study of trends and prospects for the operation of international corporations, both in the global arena and in Georgia, is highly relevant and has practical scientific significance. The aim of this paper is to identify the regularities of the activities of international corporations operating in the international and Georgian markets and to study the specifics of their decision-making on market expansion. The research process used qualitative and quantitative research, induction, deduction and synthesis methods. Keywords: International Corporation, Decision-Making, Home Country, Subsidiary, Branch of a Foreign Enterprise, Representative Office of a Foreign Enterprise, International Operations.

Introduction Vaccine hesitancy poses a complex global challenge. Our study investigates correlations between COVID-19 vaccination rates, religious demographics, and educational performance. Materials and methods Using cross-sectional analysis, data from reputable sources were analyzed for correlations using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression. Results We found statistically significant positive correlations between COVID-19 vaccination rates and PISA scores, Catholic populations, non-religious, and atheist populations. Conversely, negative correlations were observed with Muslim and Eastern Orthodox populations. Our findings suggest potential influences of religious beliefs and educational attainment on vaccination rates. Conclusion The data reveals a positive correlation between COVID-19 vaccination rates and the percentages of Catholic, Non-Religious, and Atheist populations, while indicating a negative correlation between COVID-19 vaccination rates and the percentages of Muslim and Eastern Orthodox populations. These findings underscore the potential significance of engaging religious leaders in promoting vaccinations as a strategy to address vaccine hesitancy.

A kernel estimate of the Rosenblatt-Parzen type of unknown density of a random variable X is constructed given the observations with a chain dependence Xi$X_i$, i≥1$i\ge 1$. The L1$L_1$-accuracy of the estimate is established. The specific form of the suggested estimate and the accuracy of its approximation are obtained using the Bartlett kernel. The derived result is refined in the case of the smoothing coefficient an=n$a_n=\sqrt{n}$. Finally, one example of a sequence with a chain dependence is constructed.

The media contribute to the development and adoption of human trafficking legislation as they frame victims of human trafficking from different perspectives, which can influence constituent and government opinions. Despite the significant need for legislation to assist victims in Russia, the government is dragging its feet on adopting more comprehensive policies. In this paper, we examine how trafficking victims are framed in the media of Russia with quantitative systemic frames and qualitative substantive frames of 682 articles on human trafficking in Russian newspapers from 1997 through 2015. We found that increased media coverage was closely associated with legislative changes and declined after 2008, when Russia's authoritarian regime became more solidified. The results reveal that social constructions of human trafficking victims exclude other narratives that advocate for increased victims’ assistance in the Russian media. Negative and neutral frames with victim blaming, and stereotypes contributed to the limited policy development, which criminalized trafficking but offered no support for victims.

The use of fossil fuels, which is still seen as the cheapest energy source today, has increased carbon emissions and contributed to the formation of greenhouse gases, and this gas has reached levels that threaten world health. While studies on this problem often question the relationship between production volume, energy use, and carbon emissions, few studies question the effects of the financial assets, which are the providers of investments made for production purposes, on environmental degradation. This study used the fixed effect model and system GMM technique to analyse the moderating effect of green finance in connection to financial openness and environmental quality from 2015 to 2020 in the CEE countries. Findings show, among other things that (1) CO 2 in CEE countries is still growing; (2) financial openness is a positive and significant indicator of CO 2 emission; and (3) that green finance usage reduces the positive impact of financial openness on CO 2 emissions. The study suggests that financial openness, renewable energy (RE) investment, and green technology innovation (GTI)– consistently drive CO 2 emissions in CEE countries. The study suggests that policies promoting green finance, particularly RE investment and GTI, can help mitigate environmental degradation and reduce CO 2 emissions.

The study examines the relationship between climate change, the interconnected elements of BRICS countries, and investments in research and development for renewable energy. The paper employing the augmented mean group estimator and Dumitrescu–Hurlin non-causality test for the economy of BRICS countries from 1990 to 2021 revealed robust evidence that increasing investments in renewable energy research and development (RandD) significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions in BRICS nations. A 1% increase in per capita renewable energy RandD spending is associated with a 2.24% decrease in emissions. Likewise, a 1% rise in overall energy technology RandD budgets corresponds to a 3.15% emissions reduction. These findings highlight the considerable potential of innovation-focused policies to promote sustainability alongside continued economic growth. It suggests the need for more research to devise effective policies that use RandD to reduce emissions without compromising larger development objectives.

Renewable energy is essential for boosting economic expansion and lowering carbon dioxide emission (CO2) to achieve carbon neutrality. This study’s objective is to investigate the relationship between the use of renewable energy, economic growth, and CO2 for South Caucasus Countries. For analysis purposes, time series methods were applied on the panel data. Second-generation unit root and cointegration tests were used to test the cross-sectional dependence. Afterward, panel causality and panel VAR techniques were performed to examine the relationship between the variables. Based on feedback hypothesis, results of our causality analysis revealed a bidirectional causality relationship between growth and renewable energy consumption. Moreover, we revealed unidirectional causality from CO2 to renewable energy and from growth to CO2 emission. We also found that the effect of a shock in renewable energy on growth is increasing, and on CO2, it is decreasing implying that renewable energy consumption will trigger growth and have a reducing effect on CO2 emissions. We portrayed significant workable implications for policymakers, regulation bodies, companies, stakeholders, and managers. Results from this study should be extrapolated with caution since their applicability is limited to the South Caucasus Countries. In addition, the research heavily depends on summaries, which may obscure regional differences. In the future, researchers may want to dig deeper into the data and examine the subtle effect of renewable energy policy nationally. Moreover, including socio-economic aspects and technical improvements in the research might give a more thorough picture of the dynamics at play.

In the chapter, the defining characteristics of the national identity of the Chinese nation are explored, arguing that it directly affects the formation of the Chinese worldview in international relations. To discuss China at a qualitatively new level, the chapter examines the hidden correlations between Chinese state identity and Chinese history and political philosophy. There are also discussed several religious directions in China, which have played the significant role in the formation of Chinese identity and Statehood of China.

Background Excessive or inappropriate use of social media has been linked to disruptions in regular work, well-being, mental health, and overall reduction of quality of life. However, a limited number of studies documenting the impact of social media on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are available globally. Aim This study aimed to explore the perceived social media needs and their impact on the quality of life among the adult population of various selected countries. Methodology A cross-sectional, quantitative design and analytical study utilized an online survey disseminated from November to December 2021. Results A total of 6689 respondents from ten countries participated in the study. The largest number of respondents was from Malaysia (23.9%), followed by Bangladesh (15.5%), Georgia (14.8%), and Turkey (12.2%). The prevalence of social media users was over 90% in Austria, Georgia, Myanmar, Nigeria, and the Philippines. The majority of social media users were from the 18–24 age group. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher education level was positively correlated with all four domains of WHOQoL. In addition, the psychological health domain of quality of life was positively associated in all countries. Predictors among Social Media Needs, Affective Needs (β = -0.07), and Social Integrative Needs (β = 0.09) were significantly associated with psychological health. Conclusion The study illuminates the positive correlation between higher education levels and improved life quality among social media users, highlighting an opportunity for policymakers to craft education-focused initiatives that enhance well-being. The findings call for strategic interventions to safeguard the mental health of the global social media populace, particularly those at educational and health disadvantages.

A country’s financing system is essential in addressing sustainable development requirements. National sources and international financial flows contribute to economic growth and environmental quality in many ways, and their impact can be critical. This paper applied panel data analysis using a comparative approach of Pooled Mean Group Auto Regressive Distribute Lags (PMG-ARDL) and Cross Sectionally ARDL (CS-ARDL) to estimate the effects of FDI, renewable energy, and remittance on environmental quality in the top remittance-receiving countries, during 2000–2021. The study emphasized the positive relationship between FDI and carbon emissions. Moreover, renewable energy and remittances revealed an inverted U-shaped relationship with carbon emissions. In the case of developing countries from the panel, remittance improves environmental quality after reaching the threshold. Moreover, for some of the developing countries included in the panel, we found that they do not achieve the desired carbon mitigation effect in their early stages of renewable energy implementation. However, renewable energy becomes a key factor for tackling environmental pollution after a certain threshold. The mixed results determined diverse policy recommendations for various stakeholders.

İkinci dil olarak Türkçenin öğretiminde dilbilgisi ve konu içeriğinin öğretim sıralaması çok önemlidir. Hangi seviyede hangi konu ve dilbilgisi kurallarının öğretileceği bir problem olarak ortaya çıkmaktadır. Konuyla ilgili bu zamana kadarki yapılan çalışmalar kurum ve şahıs bazında yapılan çalışmalardır. Diller İçin Avrupa Ortak Başvuru Metni’nde belirtilen seviyelere uygun olarak bazı çalışmalar yapılmış olsa da Türkçenin ait olduğu dil ailesi ve yapısı bakımından Avrupa dillerinden ayrı olarak düşünülmelidir. Bu çalışmada nitel araştırma kapsamında durum incelemesi modeli kullanılmıştır. Veriler gözlem ve doküman analizi yoluyla elde edilmiş ve içerik analizi ile yorumlanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgular ışığında ikinci dil olarak Türkçenin gramer ve konu öğretimi sıralaması seviyelere uygun olarak şekillendirilmiştir. Bu sıralama oluşturulurken dil biligisi içeriği ve konular arasındaki mantıksal ilişki üzerinde durulmuştur. A1’de 25 (13 DBİ, 12 Kİ), A2’de 23 (9 DBİ, 14 Kİ), B1’de 18 (10 DBİ, 8 Kİ), B2’de 24 ( 19 DBİ, 5 Kİ), C1’de 22 (16 DBİ, 6 Kİ) ve C2’de (7 DBİ, 3 Kİ) dilbilgisi ve konu içeriği başlığının yabancı dil olarak Türkçe öğretiminde öne çıktığı tespit edilmiştir.

Money laundering — the legalization of cash or other forms of property obtained through illegal means, that is, their transfer from the shadow, informal economy to the formal economy, in order to make it possible to use these funds openly (publicly). In the process of money laundering, the true source of income is concealed by replacing real transactions with formal ones, e.g. By falsifying verification documents, using documents of third parties, etc. In the conditions of economic globalization, offshore zones are often used for money laundering, these are the so-called countries. With a tax haven, where the confidentiality of the beneficiaries is ensured in the banking systems.

Akademik metinlerin bilimsel kurallara göre doğru, eksiksiz yazılması ve ilgilileri tarafından anlaşılması için dikkat edilmesi gereken birçok unsur vardır. Bunlardan biri de yazım çalışmalarının bileşenlerinden olan alıntı yapma-referans göstermedir. Bu çalışma 2020-2023 yılları arasında Türkçe öğretimi konusunda yapılmış tezlerin gönderme (referans) açısından APA 7’ye uygunluğunun incelenmesini amaçlamaktadır. Araştırmada nitel veri toplama yöntemlerinden doküman analizi ile datalar toplanmıştır. YÖK-Tez veri tabanına kayıtlı 15 doktora tezinden elde edilen veriler oluşturulan Microsoft Excel tabloları üzerinden içereik analizi ile yorumlanmıştır. Elde edilen bulgulara göre doktora tezlerinin bölümlere, alıntı çeşidine göre referans gösterme bakımından APA 7’ye uygunluğunda bazı sorunların olduğu saptanmıştır. Tezlerde en fazla atıf göstermenin doğal olarak Kavramsal Çerçeve bölümlerinde sıklaştığı görülmüştür. Bununla birlikte bölüm bazında metin içi referansların hata oranına bakıldığında Kavramsal Çerçeve bölümlerinde bu oranın (%62,37) en yüksek olduğu anlaşılmaktadır. Referans türüne göre direk alıntılara oranla en fazla hata oranı Dolaylı alıntılarda (Atıf) yapılmştır. Akademik unvana göre Profesör Doktorların danışmanlığında yürütülen doktora tezlerinde referans hata oranının daha düşük olduğu saptanmıştır.

The healthcare field is full of various challenges, such as implementing new technologies, not enough skilled workforce, stress, and anxiety. Patients' ability to communicate effectively may also be affected by their condition, medication, pain, and/or anxiety. Therefore, what is needed for the healthcare professionals is good strategic communication skills and maintaining positivity and simplicity to ensure patient safety, wellbeing, and the overall efficiency of busy healthcare organizations. Besides, serious problems may arise from poor quality communication. If professional communication skills vary in quality, then a patient's understanding of their health status may lack context, completeness, and accuracy – often causing confusion and potential harm. Communication failures in hospitals and medical practices are responsible for malpractice claims, resulting in deaths and high costs.

Research on quantum computers has advanced significantly in recent years. If humanity ever creates an effective quantum computer, many of the present public key cryptosystems can be compromised. These cryptosystems are currently found in many commercial products. We have devised solutions that seem to protect us from quantum attacks, but they are unsafe and inefficient for use in everyday life. In the paper, hash-based digital signature techniques are analyzed. A Merkle-tree-based digital signature is assessed. Using a Verkle tree and vector commitments, the paper explores novel ideas. The authors of this article present a unique technology for developing a post-quantum digital signature system using state-of-the-art Verkle tree technology. A Verkle tree, vector commitments, and vector commitments based on lattices for post-quantum features are used for this purpose. The concepts of post-quantum signature design utilizing a Verkle tree are also provided in the paper.

The main goal of the research is to find out what influence different mechanisms of digital marketing have on the consumer's buying decision. The purpose of the research is to analyze different platforms and find out how they work in the Georgian market. This study investigates digital marketing channels, including, mobile marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing. It examines how various channels affect consumers purchasing decisions in the Georgia market. Questionnaires were compiled based on a simple sampling technique. 200 questionnaires were distributed and 104 completed copies were collected, excluding those that were not filled in completely. The findings of this study showed that digital marketing, including that done through Gmail, social media, and mobile platforms, has a significant influence on consumer purchasing decisions. As the research results showed, In order to maintain their competitiveness in the modern business environment, organizations should develop strategies to use the digital world and technology to influence customer buying decisions.

The article discusses the issue of framing of Environmental Issues from an ideological perspective(s). We will try to show how the main ideological paradigms identify, frame and present the basic issues of ecology, in general. The theoretical basis for our deliberation is a concept of discourse analysis, where specific issues are being examined though a language use. For this purpose, we mainly focus on a specific type of discourse – a Capitalist Discourse and try to show how it manages to frame all important environmental issues in a specific manner in terms of justifying the current status quo, that is – economic necessity/utility/profitability principles. The notion of Capitalist Discourse is borrowed from J. Lacan’s Theory of Four Discourses, where the notion under discussion is being identified as an additional, fifth type of discourse which is a variation of discourse of the master, which takes a hysterical position in order to create an impression that it stands on the side of those who are subject to the discourse of the master, when in fact, it secretly serves and pursues the interests of the later. Another endeavor in examining the subject is to focus/identify specific linguistic strategies intended to frame/re-frame the environmental issues using various euphemisms